Doctor Who - 60 Years

The first episode of British sci-fi drama series 'Doctor Who' was broadcast on Saturday 23rd November 1963 at 5:15pm by the BBC in London. An instant hit with the viewers, it quickly became a national institution which ran for 26 series before being cancelled in 1989. Then, like the Timelord himself, the drama was resurrected on 26th March 2005, becoming more popular than ever. 

When Doctor Who began, the Sun had just moved into the 'travel and adventure' sign of Sagittarius, and indeed, this is highly appropriate, as the Doctor's adventures include travelling over vast distances (very Sagittarian) both in time and space. Sagittarius also symbolises people from faraway places, and of course, the Doctor is an alien from another planet whose enemies are also aliens. This Sagittarian influence is further enhanced by the fact that this sign contains more planets than any other in the Doctor Who chart. 

The Doctor Who Moon is in the sign of Aquarius - perfect for a futuristic drama! Aquarius represents everything scientific and electronic, and the Doctor's exploits are positively saturated in scientific data and electronic devices. In many ways, the Doctor is actually a scientist. However, Aquarius is also the sign of humanitarianism and philanthropy, and this too is a major theme of each episode. The Doctor is one of life's 'good guys', he literally wants to save the Universe. This Moon sign brings logical thinking, combined with a powerful imagination, and prophetic insight. 

The Doctor Who Ascendant in Gemini is very intriguing. Gemini is a Dual Sign, and so many things connected to the Timelord symbolise this theme of duality. The Doctor himself has two hearts, and he never acts alone, always having a partner by his side. Also, the very first episode was actually broadcast twice, due to rescheduling because of the media coverage surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy the previous day. This Ascendant imbues the Timelord with eloquent speech and fast thinking. In fact, the Doctor is a lightning-quick communicator who often talks his way out of danger! 

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There are several mysteries associated with the Doctor. Why is he called 'Doctor', for example? Maybe to make people trust him. One of his key phrases when he rushes to help someone in danger is "I'm the doctor" which immediately puts people at their ease. Incidentally, this phrase is often followed by a question from the other person "Doctor who?" - hence the title of the show - to which the Doctor maintains a dignified silence, or replies "Just the Doctor". But, astrologically, it's interesting to see that most of the planets are situated in sector six of the chart - the sector which rules 'medical practitioners'. One of these planets is Mercury in the sign of Sagittarius. So, this character is knowledgeable, insightful, scientific, and will go to great lengths to save humanity. 

Another conundrum is the regeneration process which takes place when the current actor in the role of The Doctor decides to leave. This is how the regeneration idea came about - a way of guaranteeing the show's continuation even if the main actor is no longer there. The Bond movies also use the same technique. However, could there be more to it? With so much emphasis in the chart being placed in Sagittarius, is it possible that the Doctor is symbolic of a religious saviour? Could the regeneration process he goes through be symbolic of immortality - he is over 900 years old but never dies. Or could it represent reincarnation? Interestingly, the Moon, Saturn and Midheaven of the Doctor Who chart are all situated in sector eight - recycling, regenerating, transforming, rising like a phoenix, resurrection.. 

A really interesting area of the Doctor Who chart involves a conjunction between Saturn and the Midheaven, making Saturn the most elevated planet in the chart. Saturn is the planet which rules old age and time - and is often referred to as 'The Lord of Time'.- Timelord. People with a strongly placed Saturn in their charts often study science, mathematics and history - three subjects in which the Doctor excels. Also, Saturn rules people who have titles. So, instead of their surname being preceded by Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, they will have Lord, Lady, Sir, President, Professor...... or Doctor. One other curious thing: Saturn represents authority - and what guise does the TARDIS take - a Police Box. 

There are so many interesting statistics associated with Doctor Who. For example, three of the actors portraying the Timelord have been born under the sign of Aries - Peter Davison, David Tennant, and the current doctor, Peter Capaldi. Fascinatingly, eight of the 13 actors who have played the role of  the Doctor have had the names of saints - Patrick, Thomas, Peter (twice) Paul, Christopher, David, and Matthew. One third of the actors have had first names beginning with the letter 'P'. 

Now,, this ground-breaking sci-fi drama just goes from strength to strength. Long may it continue. Happy 60th Birthday, to Britain's favourite philosopher, visionary and hero - Doctor Who!

Michael Kitchen

Actor and television producer Michael Kitchen was born on Sunday, 31st October 1948, in Leicester, England, UK. No birth time available.

As a Sun sign Scorpio, Michael will feel intense emotions, even if he doesn't show them. He may find it hard to trust others as he fears betrayal. Should that happen, it will be difficult for him to forgive or forget. However, his sense of devotion means that he cares deeply for those who have proved their loyalty.

With plenty of willpower, as Scorpio is one of the fixed signs of the zodiac (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) he will be extremely stubborn. He will always have known what he wants from life and then set out to get it when the moment is just right. If something is worth having, it's worth waiting for.

With his natal Sun in a sextile aspect to Saturn, Michael is reliable, patient and dedicated. Not afraid of hard work and responsibility, his success is in no small way down to his own talent, ambition and effort. He is someone that others feel they can rely upon and he is definitely a trusted person to confide in. 

In Michael's natal chart, Mercury is situated in the sign of Libra. This indicates that he is good at making decisions by weighing up all options and reaching a balanced viewpoint. He is very sociable and enjoys the company of his close circle of friends. With a sparkling love of words, he communicates easily and is a very sympathetic listener. Sensitive and kind, he has an elusive magnetism which makes others feel special in his presence. 

Natal Mercury in a sextile aspect to Jupiter and Pluto gives Michael a fertile mind and a wonderful sense of humour. He has an eagerness for information and is never short of constructive ideas. It's likely he has an interest in subjects such as psychology or mysticism. His intuition and perception are razor-sharp and he will want to learn what makes people tick, why they behave the way they do and how they are likely to react in any given situation. This would be of great benefit to him as an actor. 

Michael's natal Venus is not only conjunct a World Point, it it also the apex planet of a T-square configuration. This involves an opposition aspect between Jupiter and Uranus, both squared by Venus. In any chart, the apex planet becomes the dominant influence, therefore, Michael's suave and sophisticated image, his beautiful voice, as well as his acting and musical talent are all from within the realms of Venus. 

With his natal Mars in the sign of Sagittarius, Michael is probably quite competitive and has a love of contests whether they be professional, intellectual or physical. He is honest and direct, he will say exactly what he thinks and probably relishes a good debate. This planetary combination also symbolises a love of adventure, discovery and exploration.

Mars is in a square aspect to Saturn in Michael's natal chart and this shows that he has probably faced more obstacles than most during his life. It's possible that he was - and to some extent still is - quite shy. At times, he may even have considered giving up on reaching his goals but with patience,and perseverance,as his strong points, significant achievements ultimately paved the way for much deserved recognition. 

Mars sextile Neptune in Michael's natal chart shows that he has a rich imagination and powerful emotions. He is intriguing to others and they will want to know more about him as he leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets. He sees every side of a situation and won’t jump to conclusions or take anything at face value. In fact, his instincts and intuition are second to none and with his heightened sense of perception, he won't be fooled by anyone.

In Michael's natal chart, Mars is in a very positive trine aspect to Pluto making him passionate, determined and focused. With a natural tendency to investigate anything mysterious, hidden, buried, or controversial, the darker side of life will fascinate him. 

Michael's natal Uranus is on a World Point at 0° Cancer. This influence symbolises someone who has broken away from the expectations and traditions of their background. There is definitely a rebellious streak in him. He will be very private about personal matters and his home life will be a sanctuary of peace and freedom although possibly a little unorthodox. 

Michael has a natural magnetism that will make him impossible to ignore. According to his fans, he is "hypnotic"; "alluring" and "mesmerising". The perfect description.

Holly Willoughby

When I did a forecast for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield almost exactly a year ago on 28th October 2022, they were in a very precarious position due to their mysterious queue jumping incident past The Queen's coffin. An incident for which there has yet to be a credible explanation. The seeds of doubt and suspicion were sown and the golden couple of daytime TV had their images permanently tarnished. Although they smiled their way through the controversy, things didn't quite return to normal and in May 2023, with more drama surrounding him, Phillip Schofield resigned.

Since then, despite calls for her to leave, Holly Willoughby has remained in her position as presenter of This Morning. However, this week, on 4th October, her situation took a sinister twist when it was announced that a 36-year old man had been arrested for planning to kidnap and murder her. The circumstances surrounding this have yet to be revealed but at the moment Holly and her family are under police guard at their home. 

So, what's going on her chart right now? Firstly, I must point out that I have no birth time for Holly, so therefore, her entire chart is not available. That means no Moon degree, no Ascendant, Midheaven, Vertex or house cusps. Despite that, there is rather a lot going on.

TRANSITS

In my previous article, I wrote:

"In March 2023, Saturn will enter Pisces and will conjunct Holly's natal Mercury and Mars, giving her a serious, possibly gloomy outlook and a lack of confidence which will test her ability to endure setbacks." This planetary influence has been affecting her more strongly during the last two months. It will ease off slightly until mid-December 2023 when it picks up again for one final hit throughout January 2024. Not pleasant at all.

On 4th October, transiting Mars was in an exact conjunction to Holly's natal Pluto. This influence brings the threat of violence and situations in which negative reactions such as anger, fanaticism or ruthless behaviour have to be dealt with. Fortunately, it won't last long.

Transiting Uranus is currently in a square aspect to Holly's natal Sun. It is a very stressful planetary combination and represents sudden separations and reversals of circumstance. Ideas definitely don't go according to plan under the effects of this influence as it brings unrest, inner tension, and unexpected setbacks which result in a restriction of freedom. This aspect began in May 2023 around the time Phillip Schofield resigned and it won't end until June 2024 with a slight relapse from mid-December 2024 continuing until mid-March 2025. 

At the same time, and lasting until May 2025, transiting Uranus is forming a configuration called a Yod with her natal Neptune and Pluto - the planets of shocks, scandals and secrets. Under this influence, Holly will find herself in a haze of confusion while simultaneously facing the challenges of the real world head-on. Extreme confrontations and abuse of power. are common with this configuration  Gradually, Holly will experience an awareness of the need to make profound changes in her life. 

Queen Elizabeth II

 

War In Ukraine: The Conclusion - Part 1

Today is Ukraine's Independence Day and exactly 18 months since the invasion began. Throughout the last year, I've been focusing my research on the astrological cycles associated with war and although I don't know exactly when peace will return, I now have a pretty good idea of when the war will be likely to end.

This project has been very complex but surprisingly revealing. Although war seems random, that is definitely not the case, and the astrological patterns I've discovered during my study are truly astounding. However, for privacy and ownership reasons, I won't be publishing the full list of my research data. 

Many military experts claim that the war in Ukraine could continue until 2025 or beyond. Obviously I respect their analyses as this is their area if expertise just as astrology is mine. However, although the war could trundle on for a long time in its present form, there is always the possibility that some unexpected event may occur which would cause it to drastically change course and thereby accelerate the return of peace. In other words, what is required to finish the war quickly is some sort of 'bolt from the blue'. What that might be is anyone's guess, although personally, I can think of several possible scenarios, as I'm sure you can too.

In this study, the war of shortest duration lasted almost six months and the war of longest duration, nearly seven years. I began by analysing the charts for the beginning of each war, followed by the charts for the end of each war. These were all associated with European-based conflicts. They included both World Wars and the Crimean War, as well as several others. Using wars that did not take place on the European continent was pointless, as the goal is to discover the end of the current war in Europe - Russia's invasion of Ukraine

THE CRIMEA CONNECTION

The Crimean War began in October 1853 and the illegal Annexation of Crimea took place on 18th March 2014 which was officially the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine. (The invasion of 2022 was an escalation of that war.) Here is some data:

In both charts the Moon was in cardinal signs - Aries & Libra. 

In both charts Mercury was situated at the start of Water signs

In both charts Pluto was in the element of Earth.

In both charts the Lunar Nodes were in Air signs.

Neptune was in Pisces for both.

However, between those dates, on 27th February 1954, Crimea was actually transferred to the Ukraine Republic by Russia, 

Quote: "It was hailed as a gesture of friendship between the Ukrainian and Great Russian peoples during this year's celebration of the 300th anniversary of the accession of the Ukraine to Russia." 

Sixty years later, in 2014, Putin reclaimed it. Illegally. As you can see, the relationship between Ukraine and Russia is a very long and complicated one. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Sometimes, if a certain planet moves by retrograde motion back to the position it occupied when an event began, then that event can reach its conclusion. In other words, the planet finishes what it started by returning to same degree and then moving away, thereby bringing the influence to completion. At the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, transiting Pluto was at 27° Capricorn. It will return to that same degree at the end of September and throughout October 2023. Could this possibly suggest the end of the war?

During that same period, there is a key influence based on the planetary positions at the end of the Crimean War in March 1856. Back then, the North Node was positioned at 25° Aries. It will return to this degree in October 2023. Again, another possible indicator for the end of the war.

However, this is all happening within another timeframe which involves a planetary influence that was present in ALL of the war charts included in my research. This influence occurs around three times a year and the next one begins tomorrow on 25th August 2023 and continues until 13th October 2023 - with the most positive phase happening from 16th September. Combined with Pluto returning to 27° Capricorn and the North Node returning to 25° Aries, this period holds the potential for a possible conclusion to the war in Ukraine. 

My research is still very much a work in progress and I'm discovering new information which will produce further results over time. I'll be revealing more in Part 2.

When Good Astrologers Go Bad

Astrologers tend to support each other's work as well as astrology's reputation. Yes, we are, to a certain extent, competitors, but we respect and learn from each other. In recent months, I've been discussing and debating with other astrologers about various upcoming planetary trends up to and beyond 2025, and let's just say, it has been very enlightening and stimulating. These astrological get-togethers and brain-storming sessions are invaluable as both a confidence booster and a source of inspiration.

Social media is full of 'astrologers' who post nonsense about astrology. Some of them are amateurs who are trying to get ahead of the game by pretending to know more than they actually do. Others aren't astrologers at all, just opportunists who want to exploit astrology's popularity in order to gain attention. It's important for all professional astrologers to call out anyone who is tarnishing astrology's image. Unfortunately, that's exactly what I had to do a few weeks ago - except the person giving astrology a 'bad rep' was, in fact, a very famous astrologer herself.

Just like everyone else, we astrologers have likes, dislikes and our own opinions. However, as part of our training and ethical code of practice, we must remain neutral and impartial. What we certainly should not do is allow our personal prejudices, biased attitudes and political allegiances to influence our work. So, for example, if I analyse the chart of someone that I don't like, I still give them a fair and balanced reading. In astrology, you interpret the chart, not the person. So whatever your preconceptions might be, when you see that person's birth chart, it can completely alter your view of them. Usually for the better.

So, imagine my dismay a few weeks ago when, during a trawl of my social media page, I came upon a very famous, successful astrologer manipulating facts in an attempt to 'prove' a prediction she made a while ago - which has yet to come true. She obviously cannot wait, so therefore, decided to speed things up by pretending that there was 'evidence' of it from another, non-astrological source. There isn't any - and there won't be until her forecast proves to be accurate - but her irrational dislike of the person she wrote about in her prediction is driving her to break the rules of astrology. This is appalling behaviour from a high-profile professional! No wonder people mock astrologers and accuse us of making things up. In this case, the astrologer was literally making things up. 

When we astrologers do a forecast, we allow what we have predicted to become a reality over time. Sometimes we get it wrong, but when we get it right, it can often take several months for the event to take place. We have to be patient and to be fully committed to our knowledge and expertise. This astrologer is not doing that. She is pre-empting what she wants to happen by presenting false information. 

Needless to say, I called her out and exposed her lies on social media. I was instantly blocked. No discussion nor debate, presumably because she knew I'd sussed her and she didn't have any excuses. I won't identify her on here because 'naming and shaming' isn't my style, but if you are familiar with her then you might recognise her from what I've written. It's such a disappointment  when professionals resort to tactics like this. It makes you wonder what else she has pretended to get right....

Ephemeral Arc: 10th Anniversary

Ephemeral Arc is 10 years old today! In 2013, I considered setting up a website dedicated to astrology as I'd been an astrologer for 17 years by then and felt that I should have some sort of online presence. However, not really having a clue how to go about such a task and given the fact that my astrological website wouldn't have any commercial function, I finally decided to start a blog instead. This took shape on 23rd July 2013 with my very first post, entitled 'The Royal Baby: New Heir To The Throne' to mark the birth of Prince George, who was born the day before.

Coming up with a name for the blog wasn't easy as many of my ideas were already in use. I eventually settled on Ephemeral Arc which means 'daily curve' - the path taken by the Sun across the sky every day. This was important and relevant, as it was - and still is - my mission to promote real astrology and not Sun Sign horoscopes. 

Real astrology does not place the population of planet Earth into 12 segments of the zodiac circle - it defines each and every one of us as a unique individual by the analysis of our personal birth charts. That's the reason I'm so stubbornly passionate about spreading the word. I want people to take this subject seriously, respect genuine astrologers who have studied hard and who work hard, and to realise that astrology is not a superstitious fantasy, but something which, if used correctly, is a tremendous asset to us all.  

The last 10 years of blogging have not always been a smooth ride and not without problems and unexpected setbacks but I love interacting with my readers - and you know you can ask me anything at all about astrology. I am proud of my work on here and I know you appreciate it too. So, here's to the next 10 years of Ephemeral Arc and many thanks for your loyal support.

~ Sue x